'Burlesque' Parody to Open Off Broadway

NEW YORK -- Usually the parody follows the source material it skewers, but the creators of Boylesque are not waiting for the Nov. 24 release of Screen Gems’ Burlesque to take aim.

Written and directed by Zack Carey, Boylesque transports the elements of the movie starring Cher and Christina Aguilera from L.A. to Ohio, where a rural lad hits the bright lights of Akron, dreaming of stardom in a seedy boy bar run by a talentless Cher impersonator.

Populated by “bitchy drag queens, hot bartenders and sleazy go-go boys,” the unauthorized show plays way off Broadway at the Laurie Beechman Theater from Nov. 19 through Dec. 17.

“You don’t need to look any further than the trailer for Burlesque to know that it is ripe for parody,” said Carey. “So why even wait for the film to come out?”

He adds that his show pays homage to movies such as Fame, Flashdance, Showgirls, Glitter and Valley of the Dolls, as well as to the careers of Cher and Aguilera.

Along with the regular cast, the show is expected to host nightly special guests from the drag, burlesque and club worlds. No word as to whether the Burlesque stars have been invited to check it out.